My German colleagues, Sandra & Leif Tollé currently have their hands full with both developing and fulfilling their businesses in Germany with Tollé GmbH, so from the end of September 2013, we have called a halt to our collaboration until sanity and time for international projects on their parts becomes available again.
I've been inspired by their social and ethical approach, in particular with regards to new ways of multigenerational living and sustainable construction. I a therefore continuing my own personal interest in a separate, new blog, Living And Sustainable Architecture, writing about people, organisations and events that I attend. Please do visit at http://livingandsustainablearchitecture.blogspot.co.uk
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Monday, 4 November 2013
Community that reaches across generations – a new concept in social living
The benefits of a multi-generational living scheme in which students and older citizens live alongside another in one community have been outlined by the architects of the Welker Campus Project at a conference in Germany.
Areas for social interaction, communal activities, classes and events, in which the two generations can come together to share skills and life experiences, are included in the scheme.
Tollé, the architects with a base in Dusseldorf, want to build a sister project at the same time in the UK and are currently raising awareness of the project to prospective partners and supporters.
It is the aim of the architects to echo the considerable success they have enjoyed in the commercial sector to social projects and living environments.
Architect Sandra Tollé said: “A multigenerational complex such as Welkercampus creates a social living space and can be effective in fostering relationships that have been lost in some areas of our society for the mutual benefit of both young and old enjoying the interplay possible between generations.
“The scheme would help to ensure older people feel integrated and less isolated. Those young people with disabilities or special needs could also benefit greatly from living in an environment such as this with the support of dedicated agencies.
“Students would gain from sharing their skills and helping those with whom they are living alongside. Universities could also explore the possibilities of offering additional vocational and social studies to students who would use their experience of living in this environment to complement their learning.”
A campus has already been designed for 100 units on the site of a former home for the elderly in Duisburg, a town where there is a student population requiring accommodation. Potential sources for loans for the capital investment required have also been identified.
The design includes a hub for service providers to help and promote the benefits of the communal living scheme and to give support to those who need it so the social interaction is not just left to chance. Music, cookery, crafts, film, new technology are all areas that will be explored in encouraging the interplay of different generations.
The site covers approximately 1700sqm and includes flexible accommodation on three floors - with students in bedsit style units, but which could be adapted for couples or small families; and one bedroomed apartments on the ground floors for older people.
Professor Viktor Grinewitschus, of Hochschule Ruhr-West & EBZ Business School in Bochum said: “Current models of accommodation designed for older people often make them feel excluded from society. A multigenerational scheme could help bridge a very real gap, helping older people, some of whom are highly trained in their respective fields, to still remain active and feeling useful, while giving the young vital contact with those of a different generation.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr Chris Thomas, Milton Contact Limited, +44 (0)1223 440024, chris@miltoncontact.com
Areas for social interaction, communal activities, classes and events, in which the two generations can come together to share skills and life experiences, are included in the scheme.
Tollé, the architects with a base in Dusseldorf, want to build a sister project at the same time in the UK and are currently raising awareness of the project to prospective partners and supporters.
It is the aim of the architects to echo the considerable success they have enjoyed in the commercial sector to social projects and living environments.
Architect Sandra Tollé said: “A multigenerational complex such as Welkercampus creates a social living space and can be effective in fostering relationships that have been lost in some areas of our society for the mutual benefit of both young and old enjoying the interplay possible between generations.
“The scheme would help to ensure older people feel integrated and less isolated. Those young people with disabilities or special needs could also benefit greatly from living in an environment such as this with the support of dedicated agencies.
“Students would gain from sharing their skills and helping those with whom they are living alongside. Universities could also explore the possibilities of offering additional vocational and social studies to students who would use their experience of living in this environment to complement their learning.”
A campus has already been designed for 100 units on the site of a former home for the elderly in Duisburg, a town where there is a student population requiring accommodation. Potential sources for loans for the capital investment required have also been identified.
The design includes a hub for service providers to help and promote the benefits of the communal living scheme and to give support to those who need it so the social interaction is not just left to chance. Music, cookery, crafts, film, new technology are all areas that will be explored in encouraging the interplay of different generations.
The site covers approximately 1700sqm and includes flexible accommodation on three floors - with students in bedsit style units, but which could be adapted for couples or small families; and one bedroomed apartments on the ground floors for older people.
Professor Viktor Grinewitschus, of Hochschule Ruhr-West & EBZ Business School in Bochum said: “Current models of accommodation designed for older people often make them feel excluded from society. A multigenerational scheme could help bridge a very real gap, helping older people, some of whom are highly trained in their respective fields, to still remain active and feeling useful, while giving the young vital contact with those of a different generation.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr Chris Thomas, Milton Contact Limited, +44 (0)1223 440024, chris@miltoncontact.com
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
INVITATION Multi-Generational Living - Life Partners - The concept of a future worth living
17. September 2013, Wellings Parkhotel, Neuendickstrasse 96, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany
Admittedly - this is not a novel idea. Three years ago, representatives of the Student Union brought this project to the table with the STATTBAU GmbH in Berlin. The approach - students and senior citizens supporting each other in a common living space. At that point in time, the senior citizens in particular had great reservations...
Since then, the framework conditions have moved on. According to STATTBAU, the senior citizens had undergone a change in mindset; pilot projects on a shared llifestyle were successful. The demand for social housing is huge for the coming years. A student/senior citizen residential accommodation is thus a key to creating a "better quality of living" within these "constraints".
The result - LIFE PARTNERS: Students and seniors supporting one another in everyday life – sharing energy, ideals, experience, in short - a zest for life.
In collaboration with WELKER FOUNDATION Duisburg, we have developed a concept for a former care home for the elderly in Duisburg and had it evaluated.
The German PARITÄTISCHE WOHLFAHRTSVERBAND (Charities Association) - the INSTITUT FÜR ARBEIT UND TECHNIK (Institute for work and technology) - the BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR VERKEHR, BAU UND STADTENTWICKLUNG (BMVBS) (Federal Ministry of transport, building and Urban Affairs) came to the same conclusion:
The concept is not just a "nice idea" but economically and socially cost-effective.
We want to introduce precisely this approach to our target audience: For cooperatives, housing associations, municipal construction companies, towns and communities. It is not just pure theory, but can become reality with your help, in appropriate locations and within a very short timescale.
The following presentations will proved a scientific introduction within the context of our theme of "MultiGenerationalLiving":
"Modern technology for MultiGenerationalLiving"
by Prof. Dr. Viktor Grinewitschus, (Institute of energy systems and energy management of the University of Ruhr-West)
"Living - young and old"
by Michael Cirkel, (Institute for Work and Technology - Gelsenkirchen)
There will also be a finance presentation on:
“Routes to financing using public funding”
By Stefan Kunz, Funding Advisor of the NRW Bank & Jürgen Jankowski, Funding Advisor of the NRW Bank, Social Housing Funding
The audience will include German representatives from communities, mayors, social services, housing associations, headteachers, universities and student organisations.
UK delegates in a relevant area or sector are welcome - Places are limited!
Whilst the conference language is German, translation services will be provided.
UK contact for more information:
Dr Chris Thomas, T: 01223 440024, E: chris@miltoncontact.com
Ambassador for Tollé Green Architecture
Admittedly - this is not a novel idea. Three years ago, representatives of the Student Union brought this project to the table with the STATTBAU GmbH in Berlin. The approach - students and senior citizens supporting each other in a common living space. At that point in time, the senior citizens in particular had great reservations...
The result - LIFE PARTNERS: Students and seniors supporting one another in everyday life – sharing energy, ideals, experience, in short - a zest for life.
In collaboration with WELKER FOUNDATION Duisburg, we have developed a concept for a former care home for the elderly in Duisburg and had it evaluated.
The German PARITÄTISCHE WOHLFAHRTSVERBAND (Charities Association) - the INSTITUT FÜR ARBEIT UND TECHNIK (Institute for work and technology) - the BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR VERKEHR, BAU UND STADTENTWICKLUNG (BMVBS) (Federal Ministry of transport, building and Urban Affairs) came to the same conclusion:
The concept is not just a "nice idea" but economically and socially cost-effective.
We want to introduce precisely this approach to our target audience: For cooperatives, housing associations, municipal construction companies, towns and communities. It is not just pure theory, but can become reality with your help, in appropriate locations and within a very short timescale.
The following presentations will proved a scientific introduction within the context of our theme of "MultiGenerationalLiving":
"Modern technology for MultiGenerationalLiving"
by Prof. Dr. Viktor Grinewitschus, (Institute of energy systems and energy management of the University of Ruhr-West)
"Living - young and old"
by Michael Cirkel, (Institute for Work and Technology - Gelsenkirchen)
There will also be a finance presentation on:
“Routes to financing using public funding”
By Stefan Kunz, Funding Advisor of the NRW Bank & Jürgen Jankowski, Funding Advisor of the NRW Bank, Social Housing Funding
The audience will include German representatives from communities, mayors, social services, housing associations, headteachers, universities and student organisations.
UK delegates in a relevant area or sector are welcome - Places are limited!
Whilst the conference language is German, translation services will be provided.
UK contact for more information:
Dr Chris Thomas, T: 01223 440024, E: chris@miltoncontact.com
Ambassador for Tollé Green Architecture
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Cementing a Greener Reputation in Construction
There are some things that we just take for granted. Like the material that is below you, around you, above you as you sit sheltered, working indoors. Not the air. Concrete. Such a dull, yet ubiquitous material. Till you realise that if you removed it, modern civilisation would cease to exist as our cities and homes came tumbling down (whilst simultaneously improving our carbon footprint).
My epiphany about this material came when I heard David Ball (FCMI MCS FRSA, chairman of David Ball Group PLC) put forward his entertaining pitch to the Chairman of the Technology Strategy Board, at the recent Cleantech event “Influencing the TSB’s Strategy for Innovation in the UK Cleantech Sector”, Spring 2013. David was talking about a revolutionary new way to make cement with a much lower carbon footprint.
Simplistically, concrete is made of aggregate or filler, held together by a matrix of cement. The cement is a binder that sets and hardens independently. It can be used as a mortar, or more commonly, in the production of concrete, by the addition of aggregate. Cements come in two broad categories, non-hydraulic and hydraulic. Hydraulic cements can set in and under water and are the more important. Typically, they are made up of a mixture of oxides and silicates, which bind together giving off heat. The most common cement is Ordinary Portland Cement, colloquially abbreviated to OPC in the industry.
As approximately 3 tons of concrete are produced annually per person and it contributes to about 5% of the global CO2 footprint. This is due to the way cement is manufactured: It requires heat to convert limestone, in the presence of silicates, to a product that is then ground to produce the cement. CO2 is also emitted chemically during the process. Roughly 40% of the CO2 comes from the heating process and 60% from the chemical reaction. Furthermore, concrete production utilises a lot of water. Heat is generated on setting and the thermal expansion means that concrete is generally cast with construction joints.
Understandably, the industry is under pressure to reduce its CO2 production and find alternatives for OPC. Existing solutions include Energetically Modified Cement. BRE is currently also coming to the end of Project Aether this year, aiming to find more carbon friendly solutions.
A recent high profile project in London demonstrates progress in the right direction. The Shard has a basement slab comprising 5,600m3 of concrete containing 80% GGBS (ground-granulated blast-furnace slag) cement replacement. It was cast over a weekend on a continuous delivery program with NO construction joints. Removing construction joint makes for a more stable product requiring less steel.
So where does David Ball come in? Since starting the David Ball Group in 1970, he has been a serial entrepreneur, retaining a central core of expertise in cement and concrete. David is Director of the Concrete Society and actively involved in BRE and the industry’s BSI technical committee for BS8102:2009.
When such an active and informed mind turned to the problem of reducing concrete’s carbon foot print and increasing its performance, it resulted in action. David’s in-depth knowledge around the subject led him to begin experimenting in the kitchen, and later in the lab. He was looking at combinations of materials that might be used to create a better OPC free cement.
The trials bore fruit and the company took on expanding and developing the new material that is to become known as CemFree.
Due to IP protection, the finer details of CemFree production are still not public. However, detailed property measurements are in the public domain and CemFree can be seen in construction and use at the David Ball Group premises.
The key features of CemFree include:
As a result of his work, David Ball and his group were Regional Winners at the annual Shell Springboard event in April 2013, for their novel low carbon cement based concrete.
Because of David’s research, extensive testing and comparison of his new material to equivalent conventional cements for concrete, the David Ball Group is now open to interest in applying this innovative product.
Contact: http://www.davidballgroup.co.uk/site/
Ref: http://www.cipremier.com/e107_files/downloads/Papers/100/37/100037004.pdf
Simplistically, concrete is made of aggregate or filler, held together by a matrix of cement. The cement is a binder that sets and hardens independently. It can be used as a mortar, or more commonly, in the production of concrete, by the addition of aggregate. Cements come in two broad categories, non-hydraulic and hydraulic. Hydraulic cements can set in and under water and are the more important. Typically, they are made up of a mixture of oxides and silicates, which bind together giving off heat. The most common cement is Ordinary Portland Cement, colloquially abbreviated to OPC in the industry.
As approximately 3 tons of concrete are produced annually per person and it contributes to about 5% of the global CO2 footprint. This is due to the way cement is manufactured: It requires heat to convert limestone, in the presence of silicates, to a product that is then ground to produce the cement. CO2 is also emitted chemically during the process. Roughly 40% of the CO2 comes from the heating process and 60% from the chemical reaction. Furthermore, concrete production utilises a lot of water. Heat is generated on setting and the thermal expansion means that concrete is generally cast with construction joints.
Understandably, the industry is under pressure to reduce its CO2 production and find alternatives for OPC. Existing solutions include Energetically Modified Cement. BRE is currently also coming to the end of Project Aether this year, aiming to find more carbon friendly solutions.
A recent high profile project in London demonstrates progress in the right direction. The Shard has a basement slab comprising 5,600m3 of concrete containing 80% GGBS (ground-granulated blast-furnace slag) cement replacement. It was cast over a weekend on a continuous delivery program with NO construction joints. Removing construction joint makes for a more stable product requiring less steel.
So where does David Ball come in? Since starting the David Ball Group in 1970, he has been a serial entrepreneur, retaining a central core of expertise in cement and concrete. David is Director of the Concrete Society and actively involved in BRE and the industry’s BSI technical committee for BS8102:2009.
When such an active and informed mind turned to the problem of reducing concrete’s carbon foot print and increasing its performance, it resulted in action. David’s in-depth knowledge around the subject led him to begin experimenting in the kitchen, and later in the lab. He was looking at combinations of materials that might be used to create a better OPC free cement.
The trials bore fruit and the company took on expanding and developing the new material that is to become known as CemFree.
Due to IP protection, the finer details of CemFree production are still not public. However, detailed property measurements are in the public domain and CemFree can be seen in construction and use at the David Ball Group premises.
The key features of CemFree include:
- A 95% reduction in Carbon emissions during production of CemFree
- Low heat generation during curing
- Low shrinkage (c. 0.5mm/m)
- High compressive strength (10 MPa at 1 day, 30 MPa at 7 days, 44 MPa at 28 days)
- Low water demand
As a result of his work, David Ball and his group were Regional Winners at the annual Shell Springboard event in April 2013, for their novel low carbon cement based concrete.
Because of David’s research, extensive testing and comparison of his new material to equivalent conventional cements for concrete, the David Ball Group is now open to interest in applying this innovative product.
Contact: http://www.davidballgroup.co.uk/site/
Ref: http://www.cipremier.com/e107_files/downloads/Papers/100/37/100037004.pdf
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Tollé GmbH: Seeking better solutions for ageing populations
The Tollés are currently interested in looking at new forms of architecture and living that take account of the changing demographics of an increasingly ageing population. During my visit in Düsseldorf, we met up with an expert in the field.
Dr Michael Cirkel, ITA (Institute für Arbeit und Technik, Institute for Work and Technology) published an interesting paper in 2011. Like many nations, Germany is seeing an ageing population AND an expected shortfall in highly qualified staff.
This has multiple effects for employers and working conditions. As the market for experienced personnel gets scarce, there is more pressure for employees to be more family friendly. However, other changes are needed. Since most careers for elderly relatives are in employment, their needs also need to be catered for. Furthermore, new strategies will be required to ensure companies remain innovative whilst having an older workforce.
The issues are currently suppressed by the economic situation but will resurface again as we come out of recession.
For us within the Tollé group, we also want to find solutions for an ageing population, that allow us to live independently longer. Institutional care is unlikely to match growth or even be desirable. We are actively pursuing novel solutions, with expert help, hence our link to Michael Cirkel.
Michael's paper is M. Circle & P. re, Enste11: Smart Ageing - der Spagat zwischen Pflege und Beruf: vom Umgang mit der alternden Belegschaft. Internet-Dokument. Gelsenkirchen: Inst. Arbeit und Technik. Forschung Aktuell, Nr. 01/2011
Other articles from visit to Tollé GmbH in June 2013:
Tollé GmbH off to a running start
How German banks support business
Dr Michael Cirkel, ITA (Institute für Arbeit und Technik, Institute for Work and Technology) published an interesting paper in 2011. Like many nations, Germany is seeing an ageing population AND an expected shortfall in highly qualified staff.
Photo: Leif, Sandra and Michael
This has multiple effects for employers and working conditions. As the market for experienced personnel gets scarce, there is more pressure for employees to be more family friendly. However, other changes are needed. Since most careers for elderly relatives are in employment, their needs also need to be catered for. Furthermore, new strategies will be required to ensure companies remain innovative whilst having an older workforce.
The issues are currently suppressed by the economic situation but will resurface again as we come out of recession.
For us within the Tollé group, we also want to find solutions for an ageing population, that allow us to live independently longer. Institutional care is unlikely to match growth or even be desirable. We are actively pursuing novel solutions, with expert help, hence our link to Michael Cirkel.
Michael's paper is M. Circle & P. re, Enste11: Smart Ageing - der Spagat zwischen Pflege und Beruf: vom Umgang mit der alternden Belegschaft. Internet-Dokument. Gelsenkirchen: Inst. Arbeit und Technik. Forschung Aktuell, Nr. 01/2011
Other articles from visit to Tollé GmbH in June 2013:
Tollé GmbH off to a running start
How German banks support business
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
The UK and Europe: Where can we go?
In the current economic climate, fractures are visible in Europe and a eurosceptic British population is looking towards a promised future referendum which may see the UK opt out of the EU.
Is in or out of the EU the only solution?
I recently attended a meeting organised by the German British Forum in London. The annual conference looked at the issues of the European Single Market and the future of British manufacturing.
Five key points came up:
The solution proposed by the Right Honourable Lord Owen, is that the structure of the EU and the single market is reorganised.
This can be done through the amendment of existing treaties and agreements. The result would be a strengthened European Economic Area for the single market, with the nations within and without of the Eurozone. Those countries wishing closer political and economic union could continue to strive towards that goal.
For a more detailed report see: http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-uk-eu-relationship-divorce.html
For a blog and photo report on the Venue, Stationers’ Hall, see: http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/stationers-hall-brief-visit-to-london.html
Is in or out of the EU the only solution?
I recently attended a meeting organised by the German British Forum in London. The annual conference looked at the issues of the European Single Market and the future of British manufacturing.
Five key points came up:
- The economies of the UK and Germany are improving.
- Britain’s place is better off within the single market.
- There is less enthusiasm for the Euro and full economic and political union.
- Business needs long term political stability NOT uncertainty.
- There is a solution to the conundrum.
The solution proposed by the Right Honourable Lord Owen, is that the structure of the EU and the single market is reorganised.
This can be done through the amendment of existing treaties and agreements. The result would be a strengthened European Economic Area for the single market, with the nations within and without of the Eurozone. Those countries wishing closer political and economic union could continue to strive towards that goal.
For a more detailed report see: http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/the-uk-eu-relationship-divorce.html
For a blog and photo report on the Venue, Stationers’ Hall, see: http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/stationers-hall-brief-visit-to-london.html
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Tollé's Team Building at Kamp Lintfort
I was going to meet the team! That and the address of the hotel was all I really knew. Sandra and Leif Tolle had been involved in a whirlwind of activity in the past months. The new Düsseldorf office was now up and running. This was going to be the opportunity for colleagues from Verden, Düsseldorf and of course Cambridge to get to know each other.
Driving my Mother's old but trusty Audi, I found the Wellings Parkhotel in the ancient town of Kamp Lintfort, Germany. It was good to meet up again with Sandra & Leif.
They had to disappear briefly for a catch-up from a prior meeting and this was a great opportunity to resume my friendship with their daughter by trying out the Hotel's range of small exercise toys. Scattered throughout the corridor outside the seminar room were devices to test your balance. It was almost with regret that we parted so the actual team building could go ahead with the adults.
Eric Borges was tasked with bringing this geographically-, personality- and skill-diverse collection of individuals together. We were 12 in all: Architects, project managers, designers, external contractors and office support. I was very familiar with the concept of such events from my Dale Carnegie days. You can always learn something new, tackle challenges and, above all, have fun together. Two of Eric's exercises are embedded in my mind as achieving these goals.
"Blind Scribe" is my name for the first exercise. Each team of six was tasked with using 6 ropes to write the five letter word 'More' as accurately as possible, whilst blindfolded. We did have a trial period of 20 minutes with one rope to come up with a strategy.
"Parallel Construction" was our last exercise. Given identical materials, our two teams had to build vehicles as similar as possible. Only one communicator from each team was allowed exchange information verbally with the other - and without seeing each other's work. In the end we had to admit: Though we had originated the idea of a flood navigating raft, with great stability and integrity, the vehicle created by Holger, Wolfgang, Markus, Eva, Marius & Sandra, had more style.
Most importantly; we now could put names to faces; we had shared laughter and competition; we had broken down barriers to future communication. Note that all the German participants had given up a Friday before a long holiday weekend for this full day activity - not something everyone is willing to do.
Thanks to Leif & Sandra for organising this event. I think the farewell photo says it all!
I travelled to Germany by train this time, instead of flying. The journey is described in conversations and pictures here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-trans-national-train-journey-in.html
Driving my Mother's old but trusty Audi, I found the Wellings Parkhotel in the ancient town of Kamp Lintfort, Germany. It was good to meet up again with Sandra & Leif.
View over the small lake of the Wellings Parkhotel
They had to disappear briefly for a catch-up from a prior meeting and this was a great opportunity to resume my friendship with their daughter by trying out the Hotel's range of small exercise toys. Scattered throughout the corridor outside the seminar room were devices to test your balance. It was almost with regret that we parted so the actual team building could go ahead with the adults.Eric Borges was tasked with bringing this geographically-, personality- and skill-diverse collection of individuals together. We were 12 in all: Architects, project managers, designers, external contractors and office support. I was very familiar with the concept of such events from my Dale Carnegie days. You can always learn something new, tackle challenges and, above all, have fun together. Two of Eric's exercises are embedded in my mind as achieving these goals.
"Blind Scribe" is my name for the first exercise. Each team of six was tasked with using 6 ropes to write the five letter word 'More' as accurately as possible, whilst blindfolded. We did have a trial period of 20 minutes with one rope to come up with a strategy.
The opposition debates whether the letter "L" is in the word "More" during their planning exercise
Now, I do not want to give our secrets away, suffice it to say that our team (Angelika, Anton, Laura, Leif, Ralph and myself) clearly had the better solution. Our rapid-fire brainstorming and trialing resulted in a strategy where Anton and I developed an intimate knowledge of our other team members legs and feet by touch. Fired on by shouts of encouragement and great hilarity all round, we clearly achieved a very legible written out 'More'.
What "more" can you say? Exactly as we had intended of course, despite Eric's reservations!
our Mark I
The design improved Mark II
Most importantly; we now could put names to faces; we had shared laughter and competition; we had broken down barriers to future communication. Note that all the German participants had given up a Friday before a long holiday weekend for this full day activity - not something everyone is willing to do.
Thanks to Leif & Sandra for organising this event. I think the farewell photo says it all!
I travelled to Germany by train this time, instead of flying. The journey is described in conversations and pictures here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-trans-national-train-journey-in.html
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